sydneya few moments ago
- copy link
Considering the success of BGT, ICC has prepared to implement a 2 tier system. More than 8 lakh fans came to the ground to watch BGT, which ended a day earlier.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is preparing to divide Test cricket into 2 divisions. With this, big teams like India, Australia and England will be able to play more series among themselves. The 2 tier system will come into effect after the 2027 Future Tour Programme.
According to the report of The Sydney Morning Herald, ICC Chairman Jay Shah, along with the three boards (BCCI, Cricket Australia and ECB), want these three big countries to play Test cricket with each other as much as possible. So that fans get to see blockbuster series like Border-Gavaskar Trophy almost every second year.
Jay Shah may hold a meeting with Cricket Australia Chairman Mike Baird and England Cricket Board Chief Richard Thompson in the last week of January. Quoting two sources, the newspaper has claimed that the issue of 2-tier structure in Test cricket is included in the agenda of this meeting.
1. What is 2 Tier System? In this system, the test playing teams will be divided into 2 divisions. According to one model, 7 countries will compete in the top division and 5 in the second tier. Group A will include big teams like India, Australia and England. Whereas in Group B, mediocre teams of ICC ranking will play.
2. 2 tier system concept came in 2016 The concept of 2 tier system in Test cricket was introduced in ICC in 2016. However, it was put forward due to opposition from smaller countries. Smaller nations argue that this would reduce their right to enter the club of Test playing nations. Then BCCI, Sri Lanka Cricket, BCB and Zimbabwe Cricket had opposed it. The boards of Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan and West Indies had supported, but this system was not adopted only due to opposition from BCCI.
Then the then BCCI President Anurag Thakur had said-
BCCI is against the 2 tier test system as it will harm smaller countries. BCCI wants to take care of him. It is important to protect their interests. In a 2 tier system they will lose funds and opportunities to play against top teams. We don’t want that. We want to work in the best interests of world cricket and that is why our team plays against all countries.
3. Why are you implementing this now? The 5-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy played between Australia and India in the last 2 months witnessed huge crowds. Apart from fans, a large number of fans also joined the series on broadcasting and live streaming. BGT is the fourth most watched series of all time in Australia and possibly the most watched Test series of all time.
More than 8 lakh fans have come to the field to watch this series match. Cricket Australia released these figures on its social platform X.
Cricket Australia revealed the number of fans who came to watch the series through this post.
Expert opinion…
The 2 tier system has been supported by former Indian coach Ravi Shastri. He told SEN during the commentary of the Sydney Test-
If you want Test cricket to survive and be vibrant and prosperous, I think this is the way to go. Top teams should play against each other as much as possible. There’s real competition in these, which is what you want.
So we will see big series every 2 years. If Australia, England and India are freed from playing multiple countries, they would be able to rearrange their rotations and play each other twice every three years, rather than twice every four years. Bar, as it happens now.
The financial cycle of sport in Australia will be faster, with a potential ‘loss’ occurring only one year out of four, rather than two years out of four as is the case now. In recent times, state associations have agitated with CA for better distribution.
A record viewership was recorded in the Boxing Day Test played in Melbourne in BGT-2024.
Broadcasters want to reduce the gap of big series A lot has changed after 8 years. Everyone needs money. In such a situation, a 2 tier system can be implemented. Australian broadcasters want more matches with India and England and JioStar or DisneyStar also want the gap in the marquee series to be reduced. The World Test Championship has started from 2019, but it is not getting much support. Its points table system is also bad, which has been strongly opposed by England.